About
Sydona & Faerie Bruises
- Syd and Kitten both work full-time as kink professionals, regularly teaching, performing, and facilitating rope together. They're particularly interested in the intersection of technical structure, psychological dynamics, and embodied experience in rope, creating education around these topics that support autonomy, creativity, and critical thinking. Individually and together, they've presented in a range of local and international contexts, most notably at Anatomie (London), Devil Mask Studio (Los Angeles), KOR (Berlin), EspacioNos (Barcelona) and Studio Friction (Denver). Syd is resident educator at Temple and Hit Me Up—both in NYC—and together they perform in nightlife and performance spaces across NYC, Brooklyn, and beyond. Kitten recently toured with and taught alongside Tamandua at That Rope Place (Singapore), Cats Downstairs (Taipei), and E-flow (Shanghai). She runs a dungeon space in NYC and has facilitated kink events for many years. In addition to working as a rope model, she is also a professional dominatrix, which leads her to bring and share a unique perspective in her rope bottoming practice.
Their ongoing education has included extensive study with international instructors, including Fede Kirigami and Marta Tenshiko, Tamandua, Ropunawa, Soptik and Sansei, Banana, Hua Hua, Murasaki Haruan, Hajime Kinoko, Yagami Ren, Naoko, Tamandua, and Naka Akira. For both of them, rope is a topic they never tire of discussing endlessly; they are grateful to be able to practice so frequently, so freely, so passionately, and to share this enthusiasm so extensively all around the world.
Classes at FLARE 2026
Can I be mean for a second? Sadistic floor rope
This class explores several simple but sadistic floor-based ties designed to cause (consensual) distress with our favorite medium, rope. We'll explore a variety of ties, ranging from subtle discomfort to deep intensity, as well tools, techniques, and conversations to build your perfectly sadistic scene. Whether you’ve just tied your first single column or are a seasoned rigger, these “quick and dirty” ties are just that–quick, simple, and sure to have your bottom sweating in seconds. Beyond technique, we'll also unpack through guided discussion about what it means to play with pain -- Why do we choose sadomasochism? How do we care for each other during and afterwards? Students are meant to leave the workshop with the tools to play sadistically, responsibly, and intentionally. ## Prerequisites Rigger prerequisites: Any single column tie and knowledge of basic frictions (reverse tension, half hitch, munter hitch, hojo cuffs, yuki knot), knowledge of safety and risk in rope Bottom prerequisites: confident in-rope communication skills, knowledge of safety and risk in rope, confident ability to monitor and communicate signs of nerve compression ## What to Bring At least four bundles of rope, a fabric blindfold like a bandana or tenegui, and a cutting tool
Static suspension for the technically minded
This is a suspension level class exploring static forms from a technical perspective. Through in depth guided instruction and hands-on practice we will examine the artistry and function of commonly seen static shapes. Emphasis will be placed on creative expression, sustainability in suspension, and awareness of safety and risk considerations. Students will refine their rope handling, tension, control, precision, and flow, while continuing to build the scaffolding of their rope technique. Those in rope will be guided through body awareness considerations and styles of bottoming and communication, with the goal of tailoring each exercise perfectly to each pair. This workshop is an ultra-nerdy deep dive into the how and why of rope technique. ## Prerequisites Rigger prerequisites: experience building suspendible harnesses, ability to build and manage multiple uplines in static suspension, confident in rope communication skills, knowledge of safety and risk in rope, confident ability to monitor and communicate signs of risk in rope Bottom prerequisites: confident in-rope communication skills, knowledge of safety nerve compression. This workshop is best suited for partners who have tied together previously ## What to Bring One full rope kit for suspension and a cutting tool